There’s been some good news for the ’49ers Faithful’ regarding the availability of All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.

He’s back … kind of.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Tuesday that Warner’s practice window has officially opened. Warner dislocated his right ankle in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

‘We’re opening his window so he can do some stuff,’ Shanahan said. ‘But again, we’re not doing much, so he’ll walk-through out there with us today and things like that. But, hoping he can be ready for next week.’

Shanahan is looking at a possible Warner return in the NFC championship game or Super Bowl.

But Warner didn’t rule out a possible return in the NFC divisional round game against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks.

‘We’re taking it day by day,’ Warner told reporters Wednesday. ‘I think they said last week they weren’t going to open my window, and then my window is now open. So, we’re just taking it day by day.’

Warner said that they’re still deciding if he’ll travel with the team to Seattle.

He was a participant at practice dressed in pads and a helmet and took part in individual drills.

‘I feel amazing,’ Warner told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. ‘Just so grateful, blessed to be back. I think, obviously, when all this happened, I didn’t really think about the possibility of returning in-season. But the way things progressed and being able to have this opportunity to be back with my teammates, have a chance at helping them win this week and so on and so forth, that’s my only goal moving forward.’

Warner made 53 total tackles ― 28 solo, 23 assisted ― in six games before missing the majority of the season with an ankle fracture. He added two forced fumbles and one recovery.

The eight-year, All-Pro linebacker has spent all of his career with San Francisco after the 49ers selected him 70th overall in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Warner is currently third all-time in 49ers history with 597 tackles, behind Ronnie Lott and Patrick Willis. Warner is the 49ers’ all-time leader in assisted tackles with 351, according to Pro Football Reference.

The South Carolina women’s basketball team (17-1, 4-0) will play Texas (18-1, 3-1) for the second time this season on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN2) in Columbia, South Carolina.

The No. 2 Gamecocks and No. 4 Longhorns know each other well. It will be the sixth time they’ve played since last January. They played twice in the 2024-25 regular season and met in the SEC Championship and Final Four. Then, they faced off at the Player’s Era tournament in Las Vegas in November.

Coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina won three of those five meetings, including the two that mattered the most: for the SEC crown and the national semifinal. Coach Vic Schaefer’s Longhorns were the most recent victors, defeating the Gamecocks behind 19 points from Jordan Lee on Thanksgiving.

USA TODAY Sports staffers Meghan Hall, Cydney Henderson and Mitchell Northam break down the matchup:

South Carolina has won 10 straight since losing to Texas in November. What’s different about the Gamecocks now?

Hall: The Gamecocks have five players averaging double-figure scoring that anchor their fifth-ranked offense (89.7 points per game), including center Madina Okot, who has become a critical glue player. Okot often helps dictate South Carolina’s interior presence and overall rim protection. She’s currently in a three-way tie with Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers and Murray State’s Sharnecce Currie-Jelks for the most double-doubles in the country (13) and has nine games with 10 points or more since the Gamecock’s November matchup with Texas, including 23 points and 13 rebounds vs. then-ranked No. 22 Louisville. If the Gamecocks need a critical basket or timely play, they count on Okot to answer the call. 

Henderson: The seat belt gang lives on at South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ 10-game win streak has been spurred by their defense. South Carolina ranks third in the nation in opponent field goal percentage (31.9%), fourth in blocks per game (6.8) and 13th in points allowed (53.6 per game). The Gamecocks have struggled with injuries and availability early on — they’ve only had their full squad available for six games this season — but should have a full roster against Texas, including senior guard Ta’Niya Latson, who’s missed several games with a sprained ankle. The Florida State transfer is averaging 16.3 points and a career-best 50.9% field-goal percentage. 

Northam: Raven Johnson has always been an incredibly talented guard, but it feels like she’s grown more comfortable this season in asserting herself as a scorer. In previous seasons, Johnson could dictate the flow of the game with her passing and ball handling, allowing South Carolina’s other weapons to score most of the points. But this season, the Gamecocks need her to get buckets too. Since scoring seven points against Texas, Johnson has netted double-figure scoring totals in eight of her last 10 games. She’s averaging a career-best 10.2 points per game. A few crucial baskets from Johnson could be the difference against Texas.

Texas is looking for a bounce-back victory after falling to LSU. Who will be the X-factor for the Longhorns?

Hall: It has to be Texas guard Rori Harmon, who was benched in the fourth quarter during the Longhorns’ loss to LSU. She was 1-of-7 from the field during the game. That cannot happen in back-to-back matchups, let alone during SEC play against No. 2 South Carolina. Harmon didn’t have a great shooting day when these two teams played on Nov. 27, but she did have the game-winning basket and nine assists. If her shot isn’t falling, she’s got to find other ways to contribute.

Henderson: Jordan Lee finished with a team-high 19 points in Texas’ first meeting against South Carolina in November and the Longhorns will need similar production, especially if South Carolina zeros in defensively on Madison Booker and Rori Harmon. Lee has reached double-digit points in 16 of 19 games this season, including a career-high 23 points against Missouri on Jan. 1. She’s averaging a career-best 14.8 points this season, nearly a 10-point jump from her freshman campaign. Lee went 1-of-6 from the 3-point line in Texas’ first matchup against South Carolina, the only person on her team to attempt a shot from beyond the arc. If she can get going from long distance, look out. 

Northam: In the first meeting with South Carolina, Texas center Kyla Oldacre tallied four points and seven rebounds. Recently, she’s played a lot better, notching double-doubles in back-to-back games, including a performance where she scored 23 points in 20 minutes against Auburn. These games between the Gamecocks and the Longhorns are often decided in the paint, and Oldacre having a great outing could be what gets Texas its second straight win in the series.

What else are you watching for in this game? What’s going to be the key to a victory?

Hall: Texas is hard to beat when forward Madison Booker and Rori Harmon get their two-person game going early. Booker also anchors the Longhorns defensively; I’d like to see her cause disruption early and get her teammates involved. For South Carolina, it has to be utilizing defensive pressure to dictate how fast the team wants to play in transition. The Gamecocks excel at forcing turnovers and turning it into quick points on the other end.

Henderson: Texas must limit their turnovers if they want to avoid a second consecutive loss. The Longhorns surrendered a season-high 17 turnovers against LSU — Madison Booker had six — which led to 14 points for the Tigers. The sloppiness was uncharacteristic for Texas, which has the highest turnover margin in the nation (13.79) and records the second-fewest turnovers in the country (10.5 per game). The Longhorns must avoid self-inflicted wounds against South Carolina’s stout defense. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks need to find production from its bench. South Carolina’s bench was limited to two points in their loss to Texas on Nov. 27.

Northam: These two teams combined for 3-of-13 shooting from 3-point land in the first meeting. While strong interior play has led the Gamecocks and Longhorns to a lot of victories, if someone gets hot from behind the arc, it could determine who wins. Jordan Lee of Texas is shooting 38% from deep in her last five games, while Tessa Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson are both making north of 40% of their 3-pointers on the season.

What other clash will you have an eye on Thursday?

Hall: The No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats are currently without starter Teonni Key, due to an elbow injury. The Wildcats dropped a game against unranked Alabama, 64-51, and then won a Jan. 11 matchup to beat No. 12 Oklahoma, 63-57. Kentucky’s up-and-down play bears watching as they host guard Liv McGill, fifth in scoring in the nation (23.4 points a game), and the Florida Gators.

Henderson: I also have my eyes on the SEC matchup between No. 6 LSU and No. 12 Oklahoma. The Sooners are looking to bounce back from back-to-back conference losses to Ole Miss and Kentucky. LSU has been there and done that. The Tigers dropped two consecutive SEC matchups to Kentucky and Vanderbilt, before getting back in the win column with wins against Georgia and an undefeated Texas team. Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk said Sunday’s matchup against LSU will be a “fork in the road”  and called out her team’s “energy, toughness and togetherness.” That approach worked for Kim Mulkey. It remains to be seen if Baranczyk’s rallying cry will work for Oklahoma.

Northam: Louisville is going for its 10th consecutive win when it travels to South Bend to face Notre Dame. Meanwhile, the Irish are coming off an impressive double-digit home victory over North Carolina. A win for Hannah Hidalgo and her squad could signal Notre Dame is indeed a contender for the ACC title. A road victory for Louisville would solidify their place atop the conference standings.

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Teenager Macklin Celebrini is doing his utmost to become only the third teenager to win the NHL’s Hart Trophy.

Celebrini broke out in a big way this season, recording 24 goals and 70 points in the first 45 games. He already has more points than the 63 he had in 70 games last season, and he has more than double the number of points as the second-highest scorer on San Jose.

Unfortunately for him, the 19-year-old phenom has Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon standing in his way.

While Celebrini has his work cut out to join the exclusive teenager Hart Trophy club, his quest provides the perfect platform to discuss the NHL’s five youngest-ever MVPs.

Five youngest Hart Trophy winners in NHL history

5. Bobby Orr (22 years old)

Bobby Orr won his first of three straight Hart Trophies in his fourth season after turning 22 late in the season. He finished the 1969-70 campaign with 33 goals, 87 assists and 120 points. That was 21 more points than second-place Phil Esposito. 

Orr had 125 penalty minutes, the second-most in his venerable career. He put up 51 power-play points, one fewer than his career-best 52 in 1974-75. 

4. Eric Lindros (22 years old)

Eric Lindros won his only Hart Trophy in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign. He notched 29 goals and 41 assists for 70 points in 46 games, tying the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jaromir Jagr for the scoring lead. 

Lindros, who turned 22 in February 1995, scored the most points per game (1.52) en route to winning MVP honors in his third season. Lindros’ storied career was cut short due to repeated concussions, with the star retiring in 2007. He reportedly sustained six concussions from 1998 to 2000. 

3. Connor McDavid (20 years old)

McDavid won his first of three Hart Trophies in 2016-17, his second year in the NHL. McDavid also won the Art Ross Trophy, finishing with 100 points (30 goals and 70 assists) in 82 games, 11 points ahead of Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane. 

The Oilers captain finished that campaign with a plus-27, the third-best plus-minus rating of his career thus far. He also took MVP plaudits in 2020-21 and 2022-23.

2. Wayne Gretzky (19 years old)

It didn’t take long for people to realize Wayne Gretzky would become the Great One. In fact, Gretzky won his first of a record nine Hart Trophies in his first NHL season in 1979-80. 

However, he wasn’t eligible to win the Calder Trophy due to spending a season in the World Hockey Association beforehand. That technicality doesn’t take away from Gretzky’s wondrous first NHL season, where he scored 51 goals and added 86 assists, tying Marcel Dionne for the most points. 

It was the first of eight successive Hart Trophies for Gretzky, a record that probably won’t be broken. 

1. Sidney Crosby (19 years old)

When he could still be referred to as ‘Sid the Kid,’ Crosby became the second teenager to take home the Hart Trophy, following in Gretzky’s footsteps. The then-19-year-old scored 36 goals and 84 assists for 120 points in 79 games during the 2006-07 campaign, the most of his illustrious career thus far.

Over 50 percent of Crosby’s overall point production came on the power play, with his 61 power-play points being a career high. His first of two Hart Trophies came a year after losing out on the Calder Trophy to Alex Ovechkin. 

Crosby also won the Hart Trophy in 2013-14.

Wednesday, Moore announced he’ll forego the 2026 NFL Draft in order to play another season for the Ducks – in what’s very likely the best decision for him … and the New York Jets.

Moore, who’s started just 20 games in college – 15 in Oregon’s just completed season and five for UCLA in 2023 – was widely projected to be a top-five pick in this year’s draft, quite possibly second overall to the quarterback-starved Jets. (The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to take Indiana star and recently crowned Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza in the top spot.)

Still, some NFL scouts believe Moore could have more professional upside than Mendoza.

“Around the league, there’s a debate on who’s one or who’s two,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller recently told USA TODAY Sports. “Some people love Mendoza – pocket passer, super accurate, poised, never seems to get rattled. He’s more of a distributor – he allows his guys to go make plays. I think there’s a lot of people that see that and like it. He’s kind of Jared Goff-esque … or Kirk Cousins-plus.

“Dante, I think he’s a little more explosive, he’s a little more dynamic. … He’s really not quite as experienced. And so it’s more of an upside bet.”

Mendoza thoroughly outplayed Moore in last Friday’s Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers scalding the Ducks 56-22. Mendoza’s performance, which included five touchdown passes and three incompletions, aligned with Miller’s description of him. However Moore threw an ugly pick-six on the first play from scrimmage, didn’t deal with Indiana’s defensive pressure effectively and – despite a promising second drive capped by a 19-yard TD pass to Jamari Johnson – wasn’t able to keep Oregon competitive in the CFP semifinal round, his 285 passing yards largely cosmetic.

The game was but a snapshot of Moore, who was third-team All-Big Ten 2025 and typically has a strong and accurate arm, and hardly a microcosm of his breakout season. Yet it was also more indicative of what he’ll see on an Sundays than a Saturday in Eugene or Corvallis.

Moore’s decision likely spares the perpetually rebuilding Jets – and a roster that began getting stripped of talent at November’s trade deadline – from a mistake. Though the NYJ touted the consistency of their offensive line at the end of the season, which they ended by losing a record five consecutive games by at least 23 points apiece, they hardly have the look of a team that’s one young quarterback away from competing. And for a franchise that’s failed to support and/or develop Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson and Justin Fields – and that’s just over the past 15 years – asking Moore to deliver in the pressure cooker that is the New York market without a reputable QB sensei would have been a highly suspect decision.

Also, the NFL has done no favors to inexperienced passers taken as top-five picks in recent years – think Mitch Trubisky, Trey Lance or Anthony Richardson.

So while Moore returns to school in hopes of further polishing his game – and, make no mistake, it’s a decision quite likely to cost him significant draft position (and money) in the 2027 draft, though could ultimately render him a better football player – where do the Jets go from here?

Here are four suggestions for Gang Green:

Bring in a veteran QB with upside

Hard to imagine Fields is sticking around for the second year of the deal he signed last year – especially given his ongoing inability to develop as a passer, and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s inability to consistently deploy the dual threat in a way that leverages Fields’ talents as a runner.

As is typically the case, the crop of free agent quarterbacks is going to be thin. Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell and Malik Willis – and he might actually have a fairly robust market – seem like the best options (and, no, we’re not advocating for Daniel Jones to return to New York).

Even though he’ll be 38 next season, maybe Cousins could be a temporary option – given the relative strength of the Jets’ line and his desire to remain a starter in the league, even if only in a bridge capacity. He’s certainly closer to Jared Goff, whom Engstrand worked with in Detroit, than anyone else on this list. And the rebooting Falcons could more easily trade Cousins now from a salary cap perspective – though they might be compelled to retain him as Michael Penix Jr. recovers from his most recent knee injury.

But maybe the sweet spot solution is Mac Jones. A failed 2021 first-rounder alongside Wilson, Lance and Fields, Jones – like Darnold before him – has seemingly benefited from a year in Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback halfway house with the San Francisco 49ers, winning five of eight starts this season while crafting a career-best 97.4 passer rating. Jones is a fiery competitor and has a demeanor teammates tend to gravitate toward. And as flush with draft capital as the Jets are after offloading Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner in November, sending, say, a third-rounder to the Niners for Jones, who’s already under contract for 2026, could be a worthwhile gambit.

Draft a quarterback … but not early

The Jets have two first-round picks this year. They should use both with the always prudent “best player available” approach in mind to build out this roster. And unless the Raiders pass on Mendoza for some hard-to-fathom reason, that means the NYJ should be steering clear of QBs on Day 1 of the draft. The Jets also possess two second-round picks. But even then, using one on Alabama’s Ty Simpson, for example, seems misguided given his own limitations. But if Simpson or LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier or Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, for example, are available in the middle rounds, any might be worth a flier given their upside and the general lack of expectations they’d carry forward from college at this point.

Draft a playmaker … early

Even if the Jets have no business taking a QB with the second pick, laying the groundwork for the eventual face of the franchise makes sense. WR Garrett Wilson and TE Mason Taylor, a second-round pick by this regime last year, could be the start of a nice suite of weapons.

But the Jets have probably over-targeted and overburdened the wispy Wilson in recent years – and he only played in seven games in 2025. Taking another Ohio State receiver, Carnell Tate – perhaps a similar, if slightly bigger (6-3, 195) version of Wilson – could be the right play. Buckeyes pass catchers translate very well to the NFL, and creating a tandem that could be a nice 1/1A combo would be sensible.

And though it’s quite lofty for his position, perhaps lengthy consideration should be given to Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. The caveat is having a plan here – not tossing him into an unfortunate situation like the one Las Vegas’ Ashton Jeanty found himself in as a rookie. But remember, this offense – at least based on how it operates in Detroit – heavily relies on two backs, and the Jets may not have one frontliner if Breece Hall jets in free agency. Regardless, the dynamic Love might be perfectly utilized in some kind of time-share here, especially since his skills as a receiver would absolutely benefit any kind of quarterback − but especially a young one.

Keep the phone lines open

Are the Jets likely to field an offer at No. 2 the way the Cleveland Browns did last year, when they traded down so the Jacksonville Jaguars could reel in Heisman Trophy winning WR/CB Travis Hunter? Seems rather unlikely – especially in a draft so seemingly devoid of quarterback talent. But if the Jets can move out of the second spot – even if it means taking a bit less than a premium package – to slide back a handful of spots, they should. They have too many needs, especially defensively, to stick and pick in this draft unless they’re absolutely convicted about someone like Love or a defender such as Buckeyes pass rusher Arvell Reese. But given the obvious signal the team sent that it’s embarking on a lengthy rebuild, stockpiling assets – especially if that means extra ammo in what’s expected to be a loaded 2027 draft – seems like the chess move for GM Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn.

Katie Ledecky continues to prove she’s the greatest female swimmer ever whenever she steps foot into a pool.

She finished in 15 minutes and 23.21 seconds, placing first in the Austin championship. Ledecky holds the record time at 15:20.48, which she set back in 2018, per Olympics.com.

‘I’m really happy with that, it was faster than I was all last year,’ Ledecky said after the race. ‘It was my second-best ever. I had pretty low expectations coming into today, so that definitely blew it out of the water.’

Finishing second and third were Brinkleigh Hansen of St. Petersburg, Florida, who finished in 16:31.31 and Becca Mann of Homer Glen, Illinois, who finished in 16:35.09.

Ledecky praised her training staff for pushing her to her limits and preparing her for the competition.

‘Training has been incredible,’ Ledecky said. ‘I have a really great group of distance swimmers at Florida and it’s been really hard the last month. That hard training gives me a lot of good confidence, which always helps.’

It’s not bold to say the NBA’s intrigue in Europe is large right now. Fifteen percent of players currently in the NBA are European. Furthermore, three of the league’s top-five preseason MVP favorites were European — Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. I haven’t even mentioned San Antonio’s young superstar Victor Wembanyama.

All this is to say that it should come as no surprise that the NBA is looking to enter the European market. In December, the NBA, alongside FIBA, announced that they are moving forward with plans to introduce a new league in Europe as early as 2027, claiming that they would begin speaking with teams and owners interested in joining the league in January.

USA TODAY Sports reached out to the NBA to get updates on the unnamed European league. Here’s what to know:

What will the league entail?

Leah MacNab, NBA Senior Vice President and Head of International Strategy, told USA TODAY Sports, ‘We are planning to launch a 16-team league with 10 permanent teams and at least four rotational spots.’

MacNab expanded, claiming that the rotational spots will work similarly to the relegation system many European soccer leagues use.

‘It is a very European system,’ said MacNab. ‘We want to introduce a merit-based pathway into the league so that even teams in lower leagues can have the opportunity to play at the highest level of competition.’

According to MacNab, the 10 permanent teams will never fall out of the league. The rotational spots, meanwhile, will give more teams and players the opportunity to play on the largest stage, which will help expand the basketball market and share the rising interest with other teams that normally wouldn’t get such exposure.

Are there any teams currently lined up?

Not currently.

Although early reports claimed that the NBA would start speaking to teams and owners this month, MacNab claims that no such conversations have happened. MacNab even claimed that if the NBA had already begun speaking with teams, it would have been ‘unlawful.’ The process for finding teams to fill the league will begin soon, but has not begun.

Why are they choosing to start this league now?

Basketball is growing in popularity in Europe. That’s the bottom line. According to National Media Partnerships and International Communications Lead Mark Pozin, basketball has become the second-most popular sport in Europe with over 270 million fans across the continent. Furthermore, the top two most-viewed players globally on NBA social media are European: Luka Dončić (Slovenia; 845M+ views; 1st overall) and Victor Wembanyama (France; 708M+ views; 2nd overall).

Pair those popular players with the NBA playing two games in Europe as well, and there’s plenty of reason to believe the NBA could expand its market substantially with a league across the Atlantic.

Will we see NBA teams in Europe soon?

MacNab was intrigued by this idea but said that such a concept is still a long ways away. The league is not considering that an option for the near future. That said, even Americans have become more intrigued with international basketball. After all, this year’s All-Star Game bears the theme of USA vs. the world.

As it stands, future plans including more international preseason games, with potential matchups between NBA squads and teams in the newly formed European league. MacNab also hinted that tournaments between the two leagues could be in play as well, although details on the tournament, such as time of year, format, etc. are still in the works.

Will this affect NBA teams’ ability to sign international players?

It does not appear so. According to MacNab, most of the systems currently in place will remain in place until further notice. When asked whether or not an NBA-backed league in Europe could persuade some players to remain home rather than travel to the United States to play in the NBA, MacNab admitted that it was a possibility.

Per MacNab, the salaries in the NBA will still be larger, which will likely push many players into the NBA, but ultimately it will be up to the player to determine what they want from their basketball career and whether or not staying in Europe is in their best interest.

Three weeks after Greg Biffle, his wife and their two young children died in a plane crash, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the estate where the retired NASCAR driver and his family lived in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Thus began an investigation into an alleged break-in and theft reported Jan. 8, and Iredell County Sheriff Dan Campbell told the Associated Press $30,000 in cash was stolen.

The investigation continues at the same time “A Gathering in Remembrance” is scheduled to be held Friday, Jan. 16, to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18 plane crash.

In addition to the death of Biffle, his wife Cristina and his two children — daughter Emma and son Ryder — three other people died in the crash of the Cessna Citation. According to WTVD in Durham, North Carolina, the plane hit the ground short of the runway at Statesville Regional Airport and then burst into flames.

As the grieving continues, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office now is tasked to determine what happened during the apparent burglary of the Biffles’ home.

Campbell told the Associated Press that no arrests have been made and that investigators think someone entered a safe in the home. In addition to $30,000 missing, some guns and memorabilia also are gone, according to the Associated Press report.

Biffle, who won 19 races on the Cup Series, retired from full-time competition in 2016.

The first tennis major of the calendar year is upon us.

The 2026 Australian Open gets underway this weekend and the biggest tennis stars in the game, including American Coco Gauff, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, are set to serve up intense competition after the draw was held. The tournament runs from Jan. 18 through Feb. 1.

Italian Jannik Sinner is the two-time reigning champion on the men’s side of the draw after defeating German Alexander Zverev in straight sets, while American Madison Keys looks to defend her title on the women’s side after denying Sabalenka’s quest for an Australian Open three-peat.

A record $74.9 million in prize money is up for grabs, including $2.79 million for both the men’s and women’s singles champions. Who has the easiest path to the title? Let’s break down the draw:

Coco Gauff could face Venus Williams in second round

Gauff won the second major of her career at the 2025 French Open, but her serving and forehand woes snuck up on her toward the back half of the season. Gauff finished the 2025 season with a total of 431 double faults, the most among WTA Tour players. Gauff started working with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan, who helped correct world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s serve, and Gauff’s progress was on display in Team USA’s quarterfinal run in the United Cup, where she breezed past Maria Sakkari and Iga Swiatek to open 2026.

Gauff is looking to keep up that momentum as the No. 3 seed at the Australian Open. She could face Venus Williams in the second round, with a potential third-round matchup against 2023 Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušova. In the fourth round, Gauff will likely meet fellow American Emma Navarro, who has defeated Gauff in their past two matches, including a win at the 2024 US Open. Gauff would have to get past No. 8 Mirra Andreeva or No. 12 Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals to get out of her quarter of the bracket. Gauff is on Sabalenka’s side of the draw, setting up a potential 2025 French Open final rematch in the semifinals.

Madison Keys’ title defense starts with tough draw

Eight years after making her first Grand Slam final at the 2017 US Open, Keys finally broke through and won her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open. Keys defeated five seeded opponents in her title run and will need to muster up a similar performance to successfully defend her title after a challenging draw.

Keys will face Oleksandra Oliynykova in the first round and will likely meet No. 22 Leylah Fernandez in the third round, before things get a little more difficult. Keys drew a potential fourth-round matchup against No. 6 Jessica Pegula or No. 25 Paula Badosa. Keys leads the head-to-head against both players. If she advances to the quarterfinals, Keys could potentially run into No. 4 Amanda Anisimova or No. 27 Sofia Kenin. No. 2 Iga Swiatek and No. 10 Belinda Bencic are on Keys’ side of the draw and could present a challenging semifinal matchup.

Carlos Alcaraz goes for the career Slam

The Australian Open is the lone title the six-time major champion hasn’t won. Alcaraz is one Australian Open victory away from becoming the ninth man to complete the career Grand Slam and the first since Novak Djokovic in 2016, but Alcaraz hasn’t found success on the Australian Open’s fast hard court. He’s failed to advance to the semifinals in Melbourne, with his best finish coming in the quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025.

Alcaraz’s first Australian Open semifinal appearance may be near after a favorable draw. He begins the tournament against Australian Adam Walton and will likely meet No. 19 Tommy Paul in the fourth round, who he’s defeated four matches in a row. Alcaraz could potentially face No. 6 Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals and, should he advance to the semifinals, Alcaraz could meet a familiar foe in No. 3 Alexander Zverev. The head-to-head between Alcaraz and Zverev is tied 6-6, with Alcaraz taking their last meeting at the 2025 ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati semifinal.

Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic in same half of draw

Sinner and Djokovic could potentially meet in the semifinals. Sinner leads the head-to-head with Djokovic 6-4 and has won the last five matchups against the 24-time major winner, including a semifinal win at the 2024 Australian Open. Djokovic would have to get past a potential quarterfinal matchup against No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti, No. 9 Taylor Fritz or No. 31 Stefanos Tsitsipas, which should be doable considering Djokovic has a combined 32-3 record against the three players. Sinner’s biggest challenge in the draw should come from No. 8 Ben Shelton, who he’ll meet in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.

Best first-round matchups

The first round of the Australian Open features some compelling matchups. Australian Alex de Minaur will face Australian Open semifinalist Matteo Berrettini in the first round. Berrettini leads the head-to-head, 3-2. On the women’s side, No. 32 seed Marketa Vondrousova will face off against Hailey Baptiste in the first round. The two have never played each other, but Baptiste had a great year after reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career at the 2025 French Open. Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, made her way through qualifying and will also present a first-round challenge.

How to watch the Australian Open

The Australian Open will be broadcast across ESPN and ESPN 2. You can also stream on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

When is the Australian Open? Dates and schedule

• Round 1: Jan. 18-20
• Round 2: Jan. 21-22
• Round 3: Jan. 23-24
• Round of 16: Jan. 25-26
• Quarterfinals: Jan. 27-28
• Women’s semifinals: Jan. 29
• Men’s semifinals: Jan. 30
• Women’s final: Jan. 31
• Men’s final: Feb. 1

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One of the projected top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft is staying in school.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore announced on Wednesday, Jan. 14 that he’s remaining with the Ducks for the 2026 season rather than heading to the NFL, where he was widely viewed as a top-five selection in a thin class at the position.

Moore’s decision has significant ramifications not only for the NFL, where quarterback-needy teams like the New York Jets may have to look elsewhere for their future signal-caller, but college football.

In his first season as a starter for Oregon, Moore was one of the best quarterbacks in the sport, accounting for 3,721 total yards and 32 touchdowns while helping lead the Ducks to a 12-2 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. With his return, Oregon will be one of a handful of national championship favorites heading into the 2026 season.

He’ll be returning to a quarterback room that’s just a little more crowded than it was a few days ago.

While Moore was weighing his draft decision, the Ducks landed a commitment on Jan. 12 from Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola, a former five-star recruit who was the Cornhuskers’ starter each of the past two seasons.

What could Moore’s return to Oregon mean for Raiola?

What does Dante Moore’s return mean for Dylan Raiola?

Moore’s return to college football gives Raiola several options.

The first, and perhaps more likely, scenario would involve Raiola sticking with his commitment to the Ducks and backing up Moore for a year. Oregon continued to recruit Raiola out of the transfer portal with the understanding that Moore could still be with the program for the 2026 season, indicating that they knew he might be a backup for a season.

It wouldn’t be unheard of for that program, either. Just look at Moore, a former five-star recruit himself who played one season at UCLA before transferring to Oregon. Once in Eugene, he backed up Dillon Gabriel for a season before assuming the starting role for the 2025 season.

Moore spoke about that possibility when asked about Raiola on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Wednesday, shortly after announcing his choice to stay at Oregon.

“He’s a great dude,” Moore said. “Of course, we haven’t talked much, but just seeing him and how he just competes, I know when he comes here, he’s going to be a great guy for the quarterback room. I want to make sure I give him my ideas and thoughts, like Dillon Gabriel did for me, and make sure I give him the resources to make sure he’s better on his game. I know when he comes here, he’s not going to fall and not push me. I know he’s going to push me, compete and have fun.”

Being a backup for a year could be helpful not only for Raiola’s development, but his health. He suffered a season-ending broken fibula in a Nov. 1 loss to USC and underwent surgery on it days later. Without the looming pressure of being the Ducks’ starter, Raiola could get additional time to recover from his surgery and get back to full strength.

If he transferred to Oregon on the assumption that Moore was off to the NFL and is looking to go elsewhere, he’ll have some options if he wants to jump back into the portal. Several major programs are still in search of a starting quarterback for next season, namely Miami and Tennessee. 

Dylan Raiola age

Raiola is 20 years old.

Dylan Raiola eligibility

Raiola played in 13 games as a freshman in 2024 and nine games as a sophomore in 2025, giving him two seasons of eligibility remaining.

FBS coaches voted unanimously on Tuesday, Jan. 13 to adjust the sport’s redshirt rule so that players can play in up to nine games without burning a year of eligibility, though it’s unclear whether that change, if passed, could be applied retroactively.

Dylan Raiola 247

Coming out of Buford High School in Georgia, Raiola was rated as a five-star recruit and the No. 21 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

As a transfer, he was rated by 247 as the No. 15 overall available transfer and the No. 5 quarterback.